We already use algae for fuel. It is in the car you drive, a fossil fuel.Today's crude oil originates from algae that has cooked in the layers of theearth for hundreds of millions of years. Fast forward 20 years. The USDepartment of energy estimates global demand for energy will increase by 50% bythe year 2030. Most of this energy growth will come from the Emerging Markets ofChina, India, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

"Emerging Markets Online asks - how will the world meet this increasing demandfor energy? The Algae 2020 study answers these questions and presentsreal-world, practical, achievable mid to long-term solutions for algae biomassand biofuels production," said Thurmond. "The US, Europe, China and India areaddicted to imported foreign oil. Each of these countries has a plan to reduceoil consumption with biofuels. Oil and gas majors BP, Chevron, Exxon and Shellare investing in algae as their logical feedstock of choice to produce biofuelswithout compromising the rainforests or arable land. Plus, algae consumes CO2from power plants, a double benefit for carbon reduction and biofuelsproduction." said Thurmond.

Can Algae Help Feed The World?.

We already use algae to feed livestock. Fish and cattle feed on algae fromoceans, rivers and in ponds. Chickens feed on proteins from algal biomass, andhumans consume these livestock. In the Emerging Markets of China, India, Africa,the Middle East and Africa, there is an increasing demand from rising middleclasses for more beef, chicken, fish and protein in their diets, representing ahuge opportunity for algae feedstock. According to of the United Nations,agricultural output will need to double by 2050 to feed more than 9 billionpeople, which notes increasing food production is a moral imperative to meetgrowing population demands.

"Emerging Markets' Algae 2020 study examines these challenges and finds algaewill play an increasing role in bio-industrial production systems to createhigh-value feed for livestock and human consumption, " said Thurmond. "Algaefeedstocks have a key role to play in feeding this massive demand for food fromthe Emerging Markets by 2050," said Thurmond.

Will Industrial Algae Projects Help to Feed and Fuel The World?

"The increasing needs from Emerging Markets for feed and fuel are creatinggreater demands on arable lands" said Thurmond. "Algae 2020 concludes thecommercialization of algae technologies will play a key supporting role inbridging the gap between today`s resources, and the future Emerging Marketdemands for feed and fuel," said Thurmond.

The Algae 2020 study was written by Will Thurmond, President of energy strategyand forecasting firm Emerging Markets Online. The Algae 2020 study was based ondozens of on-site visits with algae producers and more than four years ofcollaborations with scientists, biofuel producers, associations, governments,investors, inventors and NGOs.